Flying-cutter apparatus with work feed compressing means



Nov. 29, 1966 J. J. BRADLEY 3,288,009

FLYING-CUTTER APPARATUS WITH WORK FEED COMPRESSING MEANS Filed July 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN J. BRADLEY NOV. 29, 1966 J, J, BRADLEY 3,288,009

FLYING-CUTTER APPARATUS WITH WORK FEED COMPRESSING MEANS Filed July 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llf 34 35 INVENTOR JOHN J. BRADLEY United States Patent f 3,288,069 FLYING-CUTTER APPARATUS WITH WORK FEED COMPRESSING MEANS John J. Bradley, Green Bay, Wis., assignor to Paper Converting Machine Company, Inc., Green Bay, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed July 21, 1964, Ser. No. 384,062 Claims. (Cl. 83176) This invention relates to cutting apparatus, and, more particularly, to apparatus for cutting a stack of continuous superposed webs.

The invention finds utility in connection with fiolded facial tissue web stacks where endless ribbons of facial tissue, toweling, etc., are advanced for severing and boxing. Apparatus for handling the severed web stacks for boxing or cartoning can be seen in my copending application, Serial No. 352,105, filed March 16, 1964.

Heretofore, the transverse severing of such web stacks was characterized by only limited control of the stacks resulting in imperfectly formed rectangular solids. Further, since each stack is made up of a number of discrete ribbons, less than full control gives rise to the possibility of internal shifting of Webs, with consequent undesirable Wringling and length variating individual wheels. These disadvantages are eliminated by the invention, and the provision of cutting apparatus for achieving a positive mechanical control at all times constitutes an important objective of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide cutting apparatus of the character just described wherein a second endless conveyor is provided for coactio-n with a stacksu-pporting conveyor, the second conveyor rbeing equipped with a plurality of generally U-shaped members for compressibly controlling the stack during its passage through the cutting apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation set down in this specification.

The invention is explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the inventive apparatus; and

FIGS. 3 .and 4 are enlargements of designated circled portions of FIG. 2.

In the illustration given, the numeral designates generally a frame, which is positioned so as to straddle the path of travel of a stack of continuous superposed Webs. The frame 10 is equipped with two conveyors, a first conveyor generally designated 11, and a second (and upper) conveyor generally designated 12.

The lower conveyor 11 is equipped with a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart crossbars 13 which are adapted to carry the continuous stock. In FIG. 1, the stack enters from the left and is carried through the frame 10 for transverse severing by a plurality of cutting discs 14. The severed stack then passes out of the apparatus at the right-hand end for receipt .and further handling by the apparatus shown and described in my abovementioned copending application.

The crossbars 13 are spaced to .permit entry therebetween of the cutting discs 14 of the continuously advancing conveyor 11. For the purpose of advancing the conveyor, the conveyor 11 includes head sprockets 15 and tail sprockets 16. Each of these is suitably carried in bearings provided by Ibrackets 17 and 17a, respectively.

Reference to FIG. 2 reveals that the sprockets 15 are positioned rather close to each other, since the width of the stack is ordinarily just a few inches. Entrained on 3,288,009 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 the sprockets 15 and 16 are continuous chains 18 which carry clips 19 supporting the c-rossbars 13. For driving the conveyor 11, the shaft 20 carrying the head sprockets 15 is equipped with a miter gear 21 (see FIG. 2) which is coupled to a gear train generally designated 22.

The upper conveyor 12 is synchronized with the lower conveyor 11, and in the parallel lower run, i.e., horizontal path segment of conveyor travel, is equipped with a pair of head sprockets 23 and a pair of tail sprockets 24. In a fashion similar to the lower conveyor 11, the transverse shaft 25 of the head sprocket 23 is equipped with a miter gear 26 which is interconnected with the gear train 22.

Entrained over the sprockets 23 and 24 are a pair of roller chains 27 equipped with space-apart clips 28. The clips 28 in turn carry U-shaped members 29 which coact with the crossbars 13 in compressing the web stack not only during the actual cutting operation, but during the entire travel of the stack through the elongated frame 10.

For the purpose of transversely severing the continuous stack entering the frame 10, the cutting discs 14 are mounted for movement through a vertical are between adjacent bars 13 while rotating at high speed. For this purpose, the saw discs 14 are fixed to a longitudinallyextending shaft 30 which, at the entering end thereof, is equipped with a pulley 31. The pulley 31 is coupled by means of suitable V-belts to a pulley shaft 32, which in turn is driven by a motor 33 (see the left-hand portion of FIG. 1). The shaft 32 is suitably positioned and journaled in the frame 10 so that as the shaft 30 rotates through a vertical arc, the shaft 32 continues to deliver rotative power to the shaft 30 for rotating the disc blades 14 at high speed.

For the purpose of pivoting the disc-carrying shaft 30 through the vertical arc necessary to transversely sever a continuous stack supported on the conveyor 13, the frame 10 is equipped with a rocker shaft 34. Suitable bearings as at 35 are provided on the frame 10 for rotatalbly supporting the rocker shaft 34. Rocking action of the shaft 34 about a horizontal .arc, is achieved through a linkage system generally designated 36 (see the extreme right-hand portion of FIG. 2) which is suitably interconnected into the power system for the conveyors 11 and 12 for coaction therewith.

Interconnecting the rocker shaft 34 with the disccarrying shaft 30 are a plurality of angularly upwardlyextending arms 37 (see especially FIG. 2). As seen in FIG. 2, each of the arms 37 is equipped with an upwardlyextending bracket 38 carrying a pair of sharpening rolls 39 which coact with the edge of the discs 14 in maintaining them sharp.

The numeral 40 designates a lever that is pivotally mounted at its lower end as at 41 (see FIG. 1 in the central portion thereof) to an upstanding standard 42. The lever 40 is connected at its upper end to one end of a link 43. The other end of the link 43 is pivotally connected to the rocker shaft 34 so that'in the swinging movement of the lever 40, longitudinal movement is imparted to the rocker shaft 34. This synchronizes the movement of the rocker shaft with that of the conveyors 11 and 12. Thus, the conveyor operates continuously and the saw discs 14 move downwardly and forwardly in achieving a cut. Also, the retraction of the discs 14 is characterized by an initial forward movement for withdrawal of the saw discs 14 from between adjacent U-shaped members 29a (see the central right-hand portion of FIG. 1).

For this purpose, the lever 40 carries a follower roller 400 which is engaged by a rotating eccentric cam 45 and, in the rotation of the cam, imparts a swinging movement to the lever 40. Rotatable with the cam 45 is a second eccentric cam 46 which, through a link 44 and 3 roller 44a, imparts a rocking movement to the rocker shaft 34 and blades 14 into and out of cutting position relation to the stacks S gripped between the conveyors 11 and 12.

In the operation of the device, folded, stacked ribbons of tissue, or the like, are introduced into the frame at the left-hand side thereof (see FIG. 1). During the passage of the stack through the frame, the stack S (see FIG. 3) is supported on the crossbars 13 which are provided as part of the conveyor 11. Simultaneously, the upper conveyor provides U-shaped members 29 which serve to compress and confine the tissue stack. Advantageously, the U-shaped members are grouped so as to confine the stack on both sides of a position where a saw disc 14 passes through the stack (see especially FIG. 1 relative to the U-shaped members 29a and compare the same relative to the position of the U-shaped members 29b). When desired, the spacing between the various U-shaped members can be changed by relocating the U-shaped members along the chain and also by moving the lower bars as required and changing spacing between cutting discs. Further, by changing the drive train, the cut sizes can be changed as desired, as, for example, varying the length of the stacks between 9 inches and 12 inches, i.e., the length of the stacks between 9" and 12'', i.e., 9", 9 /2", 9%", 10'', etc. It will be seen that there is, however, at least a U-shaped clamping member 29 adjacent to but spaced slightly from each end of a given tissue stock.

The movement of linkage 36 (see FIG. 2) upwardly to the dotted line position designated 36, causes rotation of the rocker shaft 34. The rotation of the rocker shaft 34 results in the saw discs 14 being moved downwardly through a vertical arc to the position designated 14 in FIG. 2. Simultaneous forward movement of the shaft 34 is achieved through the lever 40. This results in the desired cut, whereupon the saw discs 14 are returned to the upper (solid line) position.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose of explanation, many variations in the details herein given may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for cutting a stack of continuous superposed webs, a frame, a crossbar conveyor mounted on said frame and having a horizontal path segment for supporting said stack, a disc blade mounted for movement through said stack, a second conveyor mounted on said frame, said second conveyor being equipped with a plurality of U-shaped members, said second conveyor having a path segment parallel to and above the firstmentioned path segment with said U-shaped members being sized to straddle and compress said web during the cutting thereof, adjacent members being spaced to permit passage of said disc blade therebetween, and drive means on said frame for advancing both or said conveyors in synchronized fashion, said drive means also being operative to move said disc blade through a vertical cutting arc and translating said blade.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which a plurality of said disc blades are provided on said frame, said U-shaped members being arranged on said second conveyor relative to said disc blades to clamp said stack on each side of a given blade during a cutting operation.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which at least three U- shaped members are positioned between adjacent disc blades during cutting.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said conveyors each include a pair of chains, the chains of said second conveyor lying outboard of the chains of said first conveyor, said conveyor chains being arranged in endless loops, said U-shaped members projecting inwardly of the loop of said second conveyor.

5. In apparatus for cutting a stack of continuous superposed webs, a frame, a crossbar conveyor mounted on said frame and having a horizontal path segment for supporting said stack, a rocker shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and having its axis extending parallel to said path segment, a pair of arms aflixed to said rocker shaft and equipped with aligned bearings, a saw discequipped shaft rotatably supported in said bearings, means in said frame coupled to said disc shaft for rotating and forwardly translating the same whereby said discs are move-d for cutting engagement with said stack as said rocker shaft moves said arms through a vertical cutting are, said disc being positioned longitudinally of said disc shaft to pass between adjacent crossbars of said conveyor, a second conveyor mounted on said frame, said second conveyor being equipped with a plurality of U-shaped members, said second conveyor having a path segment parallel to and above the firstmentioned path segment with said U-shaped members being sized to straddle and compress said web during the cutting thereof, adjacent members being spaced to permit passage of said discs therebetween, and drive means on said frame for continuously advancing both of said conveyors in synchronized fashion, said drive means also being operative to move said disc shaft through said 1 vertical and forward cutting arc in synchronism with said i conveyors.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,547,157 4/1951 Gibbons 83--329 X 2,591,359 4/1952 Joa 83--155 X 2,605,841 8/1952 Overman 83-318 2,610,688 9/1952 Overman 83318 X WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

F. T. YOST, L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A STACK OF CONTINUOUS SUPERPOSED WEBS, A FRAME, A CROSSBAR CONVEYOR MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL PATH SEGMENT FOR SUPPORTING SAID STACK, A DISC BLADE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID STACK, A SECOND CONVEYOR MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, SAID SECOND CONVEYOR BEING EQUIPPED WITH A PLURALITY OF U-SHAPED MEMBERS, SAID SECOND CONVEYOR HAVING A PATH SEGMENT PARALLEL TO AND ABOVE THE FIRSTMENTIONED PATH SEGMENT WITH SAID U-SHAPED MEMBERS BEING SIZED TO STRADDLE AND COMPRESS SAID WEB DURING THE CUTTING THEREOF, ADJACENT MEMBERS BEING SPACED TO PERMIT PASSAGE OF SAID DISC BLADE THEREBETWEEN, AND DRIVE MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR ADVANCING BOTH OR SAID CONVEYORS IN SYNCHRONIZED FASHION, SAID DRIVE MEANS ALSO BEING OPERATIVE TO MOVE SAID DISC BLADE THROUGH A VERTICAL CUTTING ARC AND TRANSLATING SAID BLADE. 